The promise of free dental care had more than 50 people braving the chilly night air as they camped out overnight Friday in Southwest Lubbock to take part in Abbeville Dentistry’s second annual Dentistry from the Heart event.

By 9 p.m., at least 50 people and half a dozen tents lined the sidewalk around Abbeville Dentistry, 5255 79th St., in hopes of being among the first patients picked for free dental work when Abbeville organizers begin registration at 7 a.m. today. The office’s staff of dentists and assistants will provide free exams, fillings and extractions between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. today to the first 150-or-so people who show up, said Britt Bostick, Abbeville’s owner.

Lance Reader and his cousin Jama Maritt were among the first in line in the makeshift camp Reader called “Occupy Abbeville.

The cousins hoped to get a free dental exam and, possibly, new fillings.

“We appreciate Abbeville doing this for us,” Maritt said.

Though Maritt was wearing a jacket and huddled under blankets in their shared green and white tent, she said she expected many of the people waiting overnight would struggle with the experience.

“Some people are already hurting really bad and the cold wind isn’t going to help,” she said.

Bostick told The Avalanche-Journal he discouraged people camping in the unpleasant conditions, but planned to bring pizzas and other snacks to those who were waiting. Abbeville also provided a pair of portable toilets for campers to use overnight.